Biblical Christian Saints (Hagioi), the elect of Christ, all are members of the assemblies of God
Pope begins process for Mother Teresa sainthood
Copyright © 1999 Nando Media
VATICAN CITY (March 1, 1999 2:17 a.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) -
Heeding the pleas from faithful around the world, Pope John Paul II has
launched the process towards possibly declaring Mother Teresa a saint.
The Vatican confirmed Sunday that the pope, one of Mother Teresa's greatest
admirers, had waived the mandatory five-year waiting period and given
Calcutta's archbishop the go-ahead to start the process for the nun.
Mother Teresa, hailed during her decades in the slums of India as a "living
saint," died in 1997 at age 87 after a life spent caring for the poor and
the outcast, inspiring followers worldwide to take up her example.
The pope had earlier said the waiting period would apply even to Mother
Teresa.
But "the demand was so great and insistent that the Holy Father thought to
go ahead" and waive the period, said a Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Ciro
Benedettini.
In Calcutta, Archbishop Henry D'Souza told The Associated Press he had
received the letter of dispensation Dec. 12 from the Vatican's Congregation
for the Causes of the Saints.
"The Holy Father would not have given this dispensation had he not received
such requests from all over the world," the archbishop said.
Gathering proof at the diocesan level about the "heroic virtue and
reputation of holiness" of Mother Teresa is a first step toward
beatification, which requires confirmation of a miracle. Sainthood, the next
step, requires certification of another miracle.
Two cases of seemingly miraculous healing attributed to Mother Teresa's
intercession with God have been sent to the Vatican for verification,
D'Souza said.
In one case, in the United States, a Frenchwoman who broke several ribs in a
car accident was said to be healed when she wore a Mother Teresa medal
around her neck.
Another case under study is that of a Palestinian girl whose cancer was
cured after Mother Teresa appeared to her in her dreams.
D'Souza expressed hope the nun would be declared a saint in 2000, when the
Vatican celebrates the start of the third millennium of Christianity.
Sometimes centuries pass before candidates reach sainthood. But other cases
move quickly.
In 1992, the pope, who is a staunch believer in promoting saints as models
of virtue, beatified the founder of the conservative Catholic organization
Opus Dei only 17 years after his death.
Copyright © 1999 Associated Press
David Lim answer:
Scriptures never teaches that one person only (alone) represents God. Jesus was with the Spirit. There were many apostles representing Christ who called believers brethren. All believers are brethren in Christ. All are royal priesthood. All believers are with the Spirit Holy. All can pray directly to God Most High.
RC requests are made to the Vatican, to the pope, and not to the Almighty who is exceedingly greater. RCs are not taught to come to God direct.
The veil between the Holy of Holies was torn after the death of Christ. The barrier between God and men was removed divinely once and for all. All can pray to God direct. His saving hand is not too short as to miss anybody.
If RC demand can change the decision of the pope, why shouldn't prayers from christians change the decision of God the Father who truly loves them? Where is faith in God?
The bible never teach christians are to be made saints after they have come back from the dead for a number of acts. Dead christians are not angels. No apostle has come back in any form after death.
In one case, in the United States, a Frenchwoman who broke several ribs in a car accident was said to be healed when she wore a Mother Teresa medal around her neck.
In the biblical faith, Christ heals people direct. Christians pray to Christ and He hears prayers, and act directly. There is no intercessor for the priests of God.
Roman Catholics rely on anti(instead of)-Christ devices. a Mother Teresa medal is an idol, not instituted by God in the Bible. It cannot substitute the precious name of Christ, which has power even over Satan.
Even the apostles did their healings by the power of Christ. Today, Christians are still being healed by the name and power of Christ through prayers and the laying on of hands with prayers to Christ.
The Bible/Word of God never mentioned any waiting period for Christians or the people of God to become saints.
In fact, all true believers (the elect) are saints; being set apart from the world for God. They are the possession of God. The bride of the Lamb.
1Peter 2v9: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1 Peter 2v10: for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
The Apostle Peter taught that believers are a royal priesthood, who therefore can intercede between the Almighty and mankind; who can bring people to God; not laymen relying on some other priests to intercede for them. They can reach God direct through Jesus the Christ.
Believers are a holy nation. Not any group of people separated from a nation of saints that are elite and different to themselves.
Believers are living saints, not dead figures and statues.
Peter did not mention other chosen race. There is but one chosen race of God, redeemed by the blood of Christ. The bible does not talk of any other redeemed group. There is no other covenanted group beyond the New covenant instituted by the cup of the blood of Christ. The whole covenanted believers partake in the cup of the Lord's supper.
The apostles wrote to all churches of God, asking the epistles to be read in other churches. (Col 1v2; Col 4v16; 1Th 1v1; 1Th 5v27; 1Jn 1v3) - that is to all saints.
A period of 5 years does not correspond with any holy number such as 3 and 7 or 12.
In 1992, the pope, who is a staunch believer in promoting saints as models of virtue, beatified the founder of the conservative Catholic organization Opus Dei only 17 years after his death.
All believers are models of Divine virtue stated in the Bible (eg: 1Cor 13vv4-13; 1Co 11v10; 1 Thes 1v6) and to imitate the Churches(eg: 1 Th 2v14). The bible and the Apostles, mentioned therein, never teach imitation of any other elite group, not angels, not priests, and not canonised saints.
No pope has any right to alter scriptures [in any way] which are the inspired Word of God.
The apostles mentioned living saints. Not dead saints. Not those who are canonised or beatified years after their death. Paul and Peter are living examples.
Saints (Hagioi) and believers are promoted by God to glory. Not by worldly institution.
Opus Dei was not a saint in the Roman Catholic establishment, let alone to be true believer of Christ according to the bible. Any title conferred after death has no power to save from a lost eternity.
Christians are not judgmental in pointing out the truth.
What is light with darkness? Christ with Anti-Christ?
The Almighty God (Yah) Himself commanded His people, Israel, to be Holy (be saints, be set apart), for He is Holy (set apart). Christians ought not stand and walk with non-Christians (those who are still in sin, blinded by the god of this world) and anti-Christs.
The assemblies(churches) of God (Yah) are groups of people set apart by assembling out of the world/social groups.
Christians being set apart (holy, sanctified by the blood payment of Christ and the Holy Spirit) are to show the world its evil and darkness and point/lead people to Christ.
Paul inform us in Galatians 1vv11,12 - For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
Galatians 1v8: But even though we, or an angel (messenger) from heaven (such as from above), should preach to you a gospel (any news or message that is uplifting) contrary (or other than, more than) to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema).
For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of jesus Christ.
Paul called his listeners brethren. They are not separated by ranks. All are saints, and sons of the living God. The revelation of Yah is filling the scriptures.
There is love in unity and therefore love in sharing whatever the Father has revealed, that all may be completed in Christ.
1 Cor 14v38: But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
So according to Paul, and the scriptures, the Roman Catholic organisation (those who pose as Catholics/ members of the commonwealth of christian church) is not recognized by Christians as anything Christian.
Scriptures/the Word of God does not recognize any miracle done by death people. No saint has yet come back to perform miracles and healings in order to be canonized into biblical or extra-biblical sainthood. The Holy Spirit heals people. Evil spirits also impart physical healing. Saints can heal people through prayers in the Name of Christ Jesus. Healing, in another word, is no big deal. The dead need not perform healing when those that are alive are doing it.
Peter in 1 Pet 1v16 repeated the command of God that the believers ought to be holy (hagios) just as the Lord God is holy (hagios).
In 1 Thes 4v27 - Paul called christians - all the holy (hagios) brethren. He was not appealing to dead believers.
Col 3v12 - the elect of God are holy and beloved.
In Eph 3v5 - the apostles are described as holy while being alive. So being dead is not any condition to begin holiness.
In Titus 2v8 - Paul exhorted christians to lift up their holy hands to God in prayers. Paul did not ask dead people to lift up any hand. Christians must be holy to have holy hands to worship the Most High. yet Roman Catholics have unholy hands in worship, hands that are not even canonized. How miserable and ungodly. Why not be holy, trust God and be christians? The Father is waiting for unholy people to turn to Him.
Rev 22v11 - Whoever is holy (Hagios), let him be holy (haziazo) still.
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